Curriculum resources

This unit explores the important information First Nations Peoples collect and communicate from observing the natural environment. Students will identify and make connections to what we observe, why we observe, how we observe and ways to communicate observations.

This unit guides learners to explore seasons, both Western and Indigenous, through observation, community research, hands-on activities and critical thinking. Indigenous seasonal knowledge was essential in the past for living well, and remains important today in order to live with and look after Country for future generations.

Students will be immersed in First Nations stories, art and dance and reflect on how this can enrich their own communication and understanding. They will learn how to use features such as animal tracks, visual patterns, rhyme, descriptive words and movement to read the world and communicate meanings to others.

Students explore First Nations bush foods, making connections to the seasons, environment and food availability. They investigate agriculture methods used by First Nations people to sustainably grow and harvest bush foods. Lastly, they design a bush food dish and share their dishes and knowledge.

Students learn about First Nation Peoples knowledges of the sky and the ways observing the night sky can inform ways of timekeeping. They view stories, pictures, dance and petroglyphs to develop their understanding of sky Country and better understand its significance to First nations people.

Students explore First Nations Peoples’ knowledges of Earth and space cycles, the significance of sky Dreaming, and how cycles are used in daily life. Students compare and contrast this with Western scientific understanding of the same phenomena through a variety of hands-on science activities.

In this unit, students work with algebraic formulas, identifying patterns and interactions between real-life variables. They begin to understand First Nations Peoples’ knowledges and observations of the environment, in this instance moon phases and tides in First Nations fishing practices.

The circle holds deep significance for many human cultures. In this unit, students explore the circle’s significance from both a mathematical and cultural perspective. They derive formulas for the circumference and area of a circle in hands-on activities and apply them to First Nations contexts.